A/N: I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long for this update. The day job was kicking my butt this week and I had to focus on it since it pays the bills. It also made it hard to find time to write. I'm glad to see that you all don't think I'm completely evil. We'll see what you think after reading this update. This chapter picks up right where the last one left off. Thank you as always for the reviews. Trust me when I tell you that they are greatly appreciated, and I love reading them. So, please keep them coming! Hope you enjoy it!
/
Greenlee watched as Bianca once again walked from the fireplace in the family room back to the front window and glance outside looking for Marissa's car to turn into their driveway. She'd lost count of how many times the younger brunette had taken that route in the last half an hour.
Kendall reentered the room from the kitchen and handed Greenlee a drink. "She's doing it again?"
"Yeah, and I have to say I'm getting worn out just watching her. She's starting to wear a path out between here and the window. Every time she sees a set of headlights, she rushes over there. Of course if I were in her position, I'd probably be just as bad."
Bianca glanced out the window hoping the car would make the turn into their driveway, but it didn't. It merely continued down the street like every other car tonight. She closed her eyes and sighed. Something wasn't right. Marissa should've been home over half an hour ago. Whenever she was running late, her lover would either call or text Bianca to let her know so she wouldn't worry. Tonight, the last time she heard anything from Marissa was when she had sent a text saying she was leaving the office and on her way home. There'd been no word from her since, and that wasn't like Marissa at all. Bianca had tried to call her several times, but there was no answer and the call would just go to voicemail. She'd called Marissa's office as well, but was told she'd left. Something was definitely wrong. Bianca just knew it. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake this feeling that something had happened to Marissa.
"Binx, please sit down. I'm sure Red is just fine. She probably ran into some traffic."
"I don't think so, Kendall. If that were the case, she would've called or answered her phone by now. I just know something's wrong. I can feel it."
"Mommy's not home yet?"
Bianca glanced up and saw her youngest daughter at the top of the stairs. "Hey, Sweetie. No, she's not home yet. She got held up, but she'll here be soon." Bianca climbed the steps and scooped Gabby up in her arms. As much as Bianca wanted to believe what she was telling her daughter, she just couldn't. She only hoped that the kids weren't able to see how worried she was. "How's the game going? Are you winning?"
Susan had taken the kids up to AJ's room to play some games to keep them occupied while everyone waited for Marissa to get home. 'Go Fish' was Gabby's favorite game, and she was known as a little card shark in the family. When she was first learning the game, she had 'help' in winning. That was no longer the case, thanks in large part to Marissa giving her some tips. Now when she won, which happened far more often than she lost, it was fair and square.
Gabby grinned. "Uh huh!"
Bianca managed to chuckle at her daughter's 'of course I did' attitude, something she seemed to adopt from Marissa. "Hmmm, maybe we should see how AJ and Miranda are taking this." She called to her sister. "Kendall, I'll be right back. If Marissa …"
She didn't have to finish the thought for Kendall. "You know I will, Binx." The elder sister doubted she would have to say anything at all when Marissa arrived home with the way Bianca had been jumping at the slightest sound coming from outside. She watched as her sister disappeared into AJ's room and hoped the kids would be able to take her sister's mind off of Marissa's absence for a short while. Kendall reached for her cellphone.
"Who are you calling?" Greenlee asked her friend seeing the concern in her eyes. She knew how close the sisters were and knew Kendall was worried about her little sister.
"I'm going to call Zach and see if he can reach the security team guarding Marissa. No matter what I've been saying to my sister, I'm worried as hell too. I'm afraid Binx is right. Something's wrong because this isn't like Red at all. If something has in fact happened to her, I don't even want to think how Bianca will take it."
/
Ben Gibson kicked out the front window of his car and crawled out. He winced at the effort and his shoulder began to throb. He quickly looked around for Marissa's car and saw no sign of it. He swore at himself for losing sight of her and for letting that pickup truck blindside him. As he had tried to pass it, it swerved and slammed him into a telephone pole. Ben heard his cellphone and retrieved it from his damaged car. He recognized the number as his supervisor's and answered. It was then he heard the sound of shouts and screams amidst that of a loud crash. He instructed his supervisor to track the GPS in his phone and to send help. He then took off in that direction ignoring his own injuries and hoping to get to the redhead in time.
The security guard found Marissa's car a block away. The driver's side had been plowed into a huge oak tree. The pickup truck was imbedded into the passenger's side. He saw a man that he instantly recognized climb out of the truck and begin to approach the driver's side of the redhead's car when shouts from the crowd beginning to form stopped him. The man whipped around when Ben shouted at him to back off. As the guard went for his gun, the man took off. The guard quickly holstered his gun and raced to Marissa's car.
Neighbors were exiting their homes with phones in hand calling 911 for help for the injured driver. Ben quickly accessed the situation. Luckily, there was no leaking of fuel or sparks which greatly diminished the risk of fire. Ben peered into the car and saw a lifeless Marissa. He was grateful that the air bags had deployed and that the redhead's seatbelt was still secure. He knew immediately that he wouldn't be able to open the door because it was too heavily damaged. He looked for the safest way to try to reach the redhead. He made the decision to break the passenger window on the driver's side more and snuck his arm through the opening to check for a pulse. He was relieved when he found one. It was weak but at least there was a pulse, and it was steady. She was unconscious but alive, and he was grateful for that.
Just then, he heard the sound of sirens approaching. A fire truck and ambulance along with several police cruisers were soon on the scene. Ben stepped back to allow the firemen begin to work on extracting Marissa from the car. A police officer approached him.
"I'm Officer Monroe. Several of the neighbors seem to think you have an idea of what happened. I can see you're injured though. Are you up for talking right now?" Brot noticed the man didn't take his eyes off of the damaged car.
"Yeah, I am. My name's Ben Gibson, and I work for a private security firm. I have to tell you that I am armed but I have a carry permit. My firm was hired to keep an eye on Ms. Marissa Tasker. A client's husband has made several threats against her, and her partner's brother-in-law hired us for protection."
"Damn, you mean to tell me that's Marissa Tasker in that car?" Brot asked surprised as he looked in the car's direction. He said a quick prayer for his friend. He then thought about Bianca and said a quick prayer for her as well, knowing how hard this was going to hit her.
"Yes, sir, that's her. She's a really nice woman. You know her?"
"I do, and you're right. She's probably one of the nicest people I know. Tell me what happened, Mr. Gibson."
"We left Ms. Tasker's law firm and were headed to her home when a pickup truck, that pickup truck, cut me off and separated the two of us. The other driver and I kept dodging each other for a few blocks while Ms. Tasker took some basic diversionary measures. The pickup took one final swipe at me and drove me into a telephone pole a block away."
"I thought that might be your car. What happened next?"
"I managed to climb out and looked around for Ms. Tasker. That's when I got a call from my supervisor asking what was going on. Mr. Slater was calling to check on Ms. Tasker for his wife. I was about to respond when I heard a crash along with shouting and screaming. I ran over this way and got here as fast as I could. I saw the driver of the pickup get out and start to approach Ms. Tasker. The crowd that was forming started shouting at him, and he stopped. He saw me start to go for my gun and then he took off. He headed south on Main Street. I ran over to check on Ms. Tasker and found her unconscious. I checked and found a pulse. That's the point when all of you arrived."
"Can you give me a description of the other driver?"
"Yes, sir, I can, but I can do you one better. It was Robert Brennan. We were given photos of him so we could watch out for him. I got a damn good look at him when I saw him get out of the truck."
Brot nodded and put a call in to the station to place an APB out on Brennan. He also briefly spoke with Jesse to let him know what was going on. The men then watched helplessly as the firemen pried the pickup away from Marissa's car. They then used the 'jaws of life' to cut into a seam in the passenger's door. Once there was an opening wide enough, a paramedic climbed in to begin to administer first aid to the redhead.
Jesse arrived on the scene while this was going on. "How is she, Brot?"
"She's alive. I'm not sure how bad she's hurt. The paramedic just got in there. Have you called Bianca yet?"
"No, I haven't." The chief looked at the man standing next to Brot. "No one is saying anything until we know something more. I'll be the one to tell her. Understood?"
Ben nodded to the police chief. "Understood." The security firm's supervisor arrived, and Ben filled him in on everything, including Jesse's orders not to inform anyone of what happened. The supervisor wanted Ben to be checked out, but the guard refused. He wasn't going anywhere until he knew Marissa's condition. He wasn't a religious man by nature, but he'd been praying for her ever since finding her lifeless form. In the few days he'd been guarding her, he found there was something about her that he really liked. Besides being nice, she was funny, smart and reminded him of his sister. When he saw her and Bianca together with their kids, he saw the kind of family that he wanted one day for himself. Marissa had to be alright for her family.
"I'm ready for the backboard." The paramedic shouted.
Marissa was carefully placed on the board. Her head and neck were secured to prevent any unnecessary movement and cause any more possible injury. She was then placed on a gurney and rolled to the ambulance.
Jesse caught up with the paramedics as they were loading the injured redhead into the ambulance. "How is she?"
"It's too soon to tell. She's breathing on her own and while her pulse is weak, it is steady. She's still unconscious, and she does have a head injury. How severe? We don't know yet. They'll have to determine that at the hospital. We suspect there are some internal injuries, and her left leg is definitely injured. I'm sorry, Chief Hubbard, but we need to get her to the hospital."
"I understand."
The doors to the ambulance were closed, and it sped off with the sirens blaring. Jesse motioned to Brot. "I want you to take Officer Simmons and go to the hospital. Keep an eye on Marissa. No one unauthorized gets to her. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir. I'll make sure of it. Will you be there?"
"Good. Yeah, I'll be there shortly. I'm going to go inform Bianca about what happened. I'm not looking forward to it, but it needs to be done. It also needs to be done in person. I'm not having her find out about this over the phone."
Brot nodded and left the scene with the other officer, heading in the direction of the hospital.
Jesse glanced over to the security guard and called to him. "Gibson, you should get that shoulder checked out. I'll have an officer meet you at the hospital to get your formal statement."
"What about Ms. Tasker?"
"Officers Monroe and Simmons will be standing guard. Any help your firm would like to provide would be greatly appreciated. I'm not above asking for help. I don't want that son of a bitch within 50 feet of Marissa."
"That makes two of us, Chief. He got the best of me once. Trust me, he won't get that chance again. What about Ms. Montgomery?"
"I'm going to speak with her now. Get to hospital, and get yourself patched up. We're going to need you."
Ben nodded and walked to his supervisor's car. They headed to the hospital discussing added security for Marissa.
Jesse stood for a moment surveying the damage. Marissa was damn lucky she survived the crash. He prayed her luck would continue to hold out. Try as he might, he had a hard time reconciling the image he had of Marissa tonight being pulled battered and bloodied from the mangled car with that of the fiery redhead who he knew and respected. He remembered when she ripped into him not too long ago when she found out about him leaving Bianca alone in a conference room with Sam. He smiled as he remembered the way she played A.D.A. Taylor and got the best deal possible for the girl after hearing her whole story. He remembered her fire when she was first attacked by Brennan only days ago. There was not even the slightest hint of the intimidation the man had been hoping to accomplish with that stunt. Then, he remembered the times he saw Marissa with Bianca and their kids. Her smile lit up the room. Both of theirs did, and you'd have to be a damned fool not to see how much the couple was in love, how perfect they were for each other. How in the hell am I going to tell Bianca that the woman she loves is fighting for her life? He shook his head and headed for his car.
/
The ambulance pulled up to doors of the emergency room of Pine Valley Hospital. The paramedics pulled the gurney off the ambulance and wheeled the injured patient into the bustling room. They were met immediately by Dr. Angie Hubbard. "What do we have?" Angie read the chart the paramedics had started in the field while trailing them into an exam room.
"We have a woman in her late 20's injured in a multiple vehicle accident. Vital signs are shaky. Her pulse is weak but steady. Blood pressure and respiration are low. She's unconscious and has been since we arrived on the scene. Her name is Marissa Tasker."
Angie's head snapped up hearing the name. "Marissa? Oh my god."
"You know her, Doc?"
"I do. What happened?" Angie pulled her stethoscope from around her neck to listen to the redhead's heart rate. She then checked her pupils and began a preliminary exam.
"From what we heard, a client's husband chased her down and plowed her car into a tree. It was a pretty nasty wreck. Luckily, she used her seat belt and her airbags deployed. Those things have given her a fighting chance. The police are notifying her emergency contact."
"Well, Marissa is definitely a fighter." Angie started giving orders to the staff assisting her. "Let's get her up to x-ray. I want a head CT. Who's on for Ortho and Neuro?"
/
Bianca came downstairs to find Kendall and Greenlee speaking quietly. She noticed her sister had her cellphone in her hands. "Kendall, have you heard anything?"
"Well, I called Zach to see if he could find something out from the security firm."
"And?" The younger brunette asked hopefully.
"Nothing so far. I'm waiting to hear back from him."
Bianca took a shaky breath and walked over to the sofa. She struggled to keep the tears that were starting to form at bay.
It was killing Kendall to see her little sister like this. "How are the kids?"
"They're okay. Susan has managed to distract them. Dammit, why haven't we heard anything?"
"I don't know, Binx. I'm sure we'll hear something soon."
Bianca heard a car pull into the driveway and raced to the door. She disarmed the alarm and flung the door open only to see Jesse approach. "No." The young brunette whispered.
"Who is it, Bianca? Is it Marissa?" Greenlee asked as she and Kendall walked over to the door.
"No, no, no, no, no, no." Bianca whispered over and over again when she saw the expression on Jesse's face.
Kendall grabbed for her sister as her legs started to give out. Looking at the police chief, she knew he had bad news for Bianca. How bad, she didn't know yet.
Jesse darted forward when he saw Bianca start to collapse. He had a feeling she would assume the worst. "Bianca, maybe we should go inside, someplace private to talk."
Kendall guided her sister to the sofa while Greenlee closed the door.
Bianca pulled away from her sister. "No, I need to know, Jesse. Is Marissa …" She couldn't finish the thought.
"She's alive but in the hospital. I'm not sure of her condition."
"She's alive. Thank god. Okay, we have to go now. I have to see her." Bianca struggled to her feet.
"I'll take you to her."
"The kids. I have to tell the kids something."
"I can do it, Binx." Kendall offered.
"No, I have to do it." Bianca raced upstairs. She had to be strong for the kids and not let them worry until she knew something more, until she was able to get to Marissa and see her. God, please let her be alright. Please don't take her from me. She took a deep breath and stepped into AJ's room. "Hey, guys. I'm going to go now."
"Is Mom home?" AJ asked.
"No, she ran into a little problem, and I'm going to go meet her. She wanted me to give you each a hug and kiss and tell you that she loves you very much and so do I."
"We know. We love both of you too." Miranda smiled.
"She knows that, but I'll be sure to tell her. Be good for Susan." Bianca gave each child a tight hug and kiss. With monumental effort, she somehow managed not to break down. As she left the room, she motioned to the babysitter to follow her. "I may need you to stay late. Are you able to?"
"Of course, I can stay as late as you need. Is everything alright?"
"No, it's not. I can't go into details right now. Thank you though." Bianca headed downstairs where the others were waiting. "Let's go, Jesse. I have to see Marissa, and I need you to tell me what happened."
"I'm going with you, Bianca." Kendall grabbed their purses.
"Wait. This is about Robert Brennan, isn't it? Are our children safe?"
"I'm afraid you're right. It is about him. The kids will be safe. I have a patrol car watching the house, and that security firm that Zach hired is sending some people over as well."
"Susan, I need you to make sure this alarm is set as soon as we leave." Bianca then raced over to the desk.
"What are you doing, Bianca?" Kendall asked her sister as pulled out an envelope from a desk drawer.
"If Marissa's hurt, I'm going to need this. Let's go."
"I'll be right behind you and meet you at the hospital." Greenlee grabbed her purse as well and followed the others out.
/
Jesse waited until he was down the block before turning the siren on in his car. On the way to the hospital, he told Bianca everything he knew. Jesse wasn't sure how much she had actually heard. She seemed to be in shock, to be holding it together by a thread, and the police chief was worried about her. Kendall, however, heard everything as she tried to reassure and comfort her sister while quizzing him about every detail of the night's events.
Kendall was worried about her sister. All of the color drained from Bianca's face. She looked ghostly white and was quiet, too quiet. It was like she was folding in on herself. Bianca had been through so much, and Kendall wasn't sure if she could handle one more loss. If she lost Marissa, it would leave her devastated, and she didn't know if her sister would ever recover from it. As for Marissa, she had to be alright, and it wasn't just for the sake of Bianca and the kids. Kendall loved the woman who not only captured her sister's heart and healed the wounds left by others over the years but also brought a spark to their family as a whole. She fit in so perfectly like she had always been a part of their family. That's exactly what she was to Kendall, family, and her loss would cause a void that would never be filled. Kendall noticed the envelope Bianca had retrieved from the desk. She had no idea what it was or its importance, but her sister was gripping the envelope like it was a lifeline.
Bianca was numb. She'd heard every single word Jesse had said. Robert Brennan was responsible for what had happened. He went after Marissa and tried to kill her. The security guard was injured in the assault while her lover's fate was still unknown. What if? NO! I can't go there! I won't go there! Marissa's going to be alright. She has to be alright. I can't think any other way. Bianca couldn't let her mind even consider the possibility that Marissa wouldn't survive. The mere thought of never seeing those beautiful hazel eyes so full of life and love, of never seeing the smile that lit up the darkest night or kissing those soft lips or making love to Marissa was simply unbearable. Bianca clutched the envelope. I need to focus on what Marissa would want, what she needs me to do. I can do this. I have to do this. I need to be strong for her and the kids. Bianca took a deep breath. Marissa's going to be alright. She's a fighter. She's strong. She's going to make it. Dammit! Drive faster, Jesse! Marissa needs me. I need Marissa.
/
Jesse pulled up to the emergency room entrance. As soon as the car came to a stop, Bianca bolted out of the car and into the emergency room with Kendall on her heels. The younger brunette headed straight for the admissions desk. "I'm Bianca Montgomery. I'm here about Marissa Tasker. She was brought in earlier. I need to know her condition and who her doctor is."
Frankie was walking through the emergency room when he saw Bianca, Kendall and his dad at the admissions desk. "Dad, what's up?"
Jesse greeted his son. "Marissa was brought in earlier tonight. We're trying to find out her condition and who is treating her."
The young doctor was shocked at hearing this. "I'll look it up for you. I'm guessing since you're here, Dad, that it's official."
"It wasn't an accident." Jesse said grimly.
"Mom's treating her. I don't see an update on her condition. Let me call her and see where they are." He glanced at Bianca seeing the obvious strain she was under. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I need to find out about Marissa. I need to see her. Please, Frankie."
The young doctor nodded and pulled out his cellphone. "Mom, I'm here with Bianca."
"You are? Your father must have contacted her. Where are you?"
"We're in the ER."
"I'm on the fourth floor. Meet me in the waiting room here. Tell Bianca that Marissa is holding her own and that I'll give her a complete update when she gets here."
"I will." He turned to Bianca. "Mom said Marissa is holding her own. She's on the fourth floor and will meet us there for an update."
Bianca breathed a sigh of relief. Marissa is alive! "Let's go."
/
"Dr. Hayward says we should proceed with the surgery."
"Who called David?" Angie asked the resident.
"I did. He's her father, and she's not married. Someone needs to make a decision on her treatment so he's asserting his parental rights."
Angie shook her head. Some residents still viewed David with awe and thought the disgraced doctor could do no wrong. This one in particular was his most loyal disciple and would be the death of Angie's patience. "First, it is not your place to inform anyone of anything regarding my patient unless I tell you. Second, Marissa has a strained relationship at best with her father. She has a mother who can assert her rights as well."
"But he's a doctor …"
"Who lost his license. He's not here because he's in Harrisburg hoping to pull a Hail Mary to get it back. The fact is that we don't know who holds her proxy. Marissa has a partner to consider."
"That relationship holds no bearing in this case. She has no rights."
Bianca had heard this entire conversation and knew that Marissa had been a step ahead of everything. She approached the group of doctors. "Angie, I believe this will settle your discussion."
Angie took the paper Bianca removed from an envelope and read it. She glanced up at the brunette and met her steady gaze with a smile. "Thank you. It certainly does." She turned to a nurse. "Please make a copy of this and attach it to Ms. Tasker's chart. Any medical decisions regarding her care and treatment will be made by Ms. Montgomery."
"What about her father? What about his rights?" The resident protested.
"Ms. Tasker has made her intentions clear. She has given her medical power of attorney to her partner, Ms. Bianca Montgomery, end of discussion. If David calls back, I'll talk to him and explain that to him. Do I make myself clear?"
The resident nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Angie turned to Bianca. "Let's go somewhere where we can discuss Marissa's condition. Dr. Torres, if you would join us."
Kendall couldn't help but smile with pride at her sister. Now, she understood the importance of that document. It protected Marissa's rights as well as her own regarding the redhead. The resident assumed the decision would fall to David who then assumed he would have free rein, but he, like most others, underestimated the couple. When are people to going to learn? Bianca handled that so much better than I would have. Kendall suspected that Marissa held Bianca's medical power of attorney as well. She followed her sister and the doctors to the waiting room while Jesse hung back and spoke with a police officer that was posted near the desk. The chief had told them on the way over to the hospital that the police would be guarding Marissa.
As soon as everyone was seated, Bianca looked at Angie. "How's Marissa? When can I see her?"
"She's in serious but stable condition. Right now, we're running a few more tests. This is Dr. Sandra Torres, our Chief of Neurology. Dr. Torres, this is Ms. Tasker's partner Bianca Montgomery and her sister Kendall Slater. Bianca, I'm guessing you're curious about the discussion you overheard."
Bianca nodded to the other doctor before addressing Angie again. "Yes, I am. Someone mentioned surgery."
"I'll go over that, Dr. Hubbard. Ms. Montgomery, what I'm about to tell you will sound scary, but unfortunately, there's no other way to really state this. If you have any questions, please stop me and ask. Ms. Tasker suffered what is called a traumatic brain injury in the collision when her head hit the driver's side window. Basically, she has a concussion. How severe? We just don't know yet because she is still unconscious. When you have these types of brain injuries, one of our concerns is swelling of the brain which in critical cases may cause brain damage due in large part to a lack of oxygen."
Bianca took a shaky breath and gripped Kendall's hand. "There's swelling in Marissa's brain?"
"Yes, there is, but it's minimal. There are several treatments we can pursue. There's positioning where we would elevate her so the fluid would drain from her head with the assistance of gravity. We could put her on a ventilator and increase the oxygen in her blood. There are drugs that can decrease the fluid."
"And there's surgery."
"Yes. Surgery would require us removing part of her skull which would relieve the pressure. What you overheard was a discussion of the approach that should be taken. It would seem, according to the resident that spoke with him, that Dr. Hayward favors the more aggressive approach of surgery."
"You disagree with that approach."
"In Ms. Tasker's case, I do. The swelling is so minimal that the other treatments should be pursued. Surgery, in my opinion, is not warranted at this time. It's an extreme measure and has its own risks especially when it's not needed. I know David Hayward is a brilliant doctor, but he can be rash and tends to favor aggressive procedures when they are not needed, as in this case. This also isn't his area of expertise. It's mine. I know Ms. Tasker is his daughter."
Bianca could tell the doctor was biting back the comments she wanted to make about David. "Believe me, Dr. Torres, I'm all too familiar with David, his reputation and his relationship with Marissa." This is exactly why Marissa didn't want him making a decision like this. He thrives on risk in the pursuit of glory and feeding his ego and perpetuating his god-like complex. We're talking about Marissa's life though, and there is no way in hell that I'm risking it for the sake of his ego and reputation. I have to think about what Marissa would want. "You're recommending a more cautious approach."
"I am. I've seen the scans. I've examined her. There is nothing that indicates us performing what I believe is a drastic procedure at this time. We'll closely monitor her for any changes. If we were to get to that point where surgery is needed, I'll be the first to tell you."
Bianca nodded and looked at Angie. She trusted the doctor. "Angie, could I ask your opinion?"
"Are you asking for my opinion strictly as a doctor or what I would do if I was in your position knowing what I know and that the person I loved was in Marissa's place, if it was Jesse?"
"Both." Bianca stated earnestly.
"I've seen the scans and test results. I also know Dr. Torres. She is an excellent surgeon, one of our best. I agree with her. Surgery isn't needed at this time. I would recommend another treatment. The decision is ultimately yours though."
Bianca processed everything she'd been told and slowly began to nod her head. "I'll follow your advice, Dr. Torres. No surgery at this time. How do you want to proceed?"
"We're running some more tests right now to assess her responsiveness. I'd like to take a look at those results, get her settled in her room and start her on a low dose of medication."
"Okay. When can I see her?" Bianca couldn't disguise her anxious tone.
"As soon as we get her settled in her room, you can see her. I'll have someone come get you and bring you back."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Dr. Torres nodded and headed off.
"Are you ready to hear about Marissa's other injuries?"
"I am. Please continue, Angie."
"She has two broken ribs and a tear in both the ACL and MCL of her left knee. It appears that injury was due in part to how her leg was positioned when the impact occurred and what Rescue needed to do to remove her from the car. We'll perform surgery to repair those tears, but we need to wait until she regains consciousness and the swelling in her knee has gone down. That's a less invasive surgery, and the head of Orthopedics has been evaluating her. After surgery, she'll need to wear a brace and use crutches for a few weeks in addition to physical therapy. The expectation is a full recovery. As for other injuries, there is some bruising and minor cuts, nothing significant. She was wearing her seat belt, and the car had air bags. That helped reduce her injuries."
"Marissa's adamant about wearing her seat belt. She says it doesn't feel right not wearing it."
"Well, I'm glad she feels that way." Angie observed the younger woman. She knew she was on both information and emotional overload. "Is there anything I can get you, Bianca?"
"No, thank you. I just really need to see Marissa."
"I understand. As soon as she's settled, I'll make sure that you do. If you need anything, let me know."
Bianca nodded. "I will."
"Binx, are you okay?"
The younger woman shook her head. The emotion was heavy in her voice. "No, I'm not. Marissa's hurt all because of that son of a bitch. I can't get to her yet and see her. I hope I'm making the right decisions."
"Bianca, listen to me. Marissa trusts you. If she didn't, why else would she pick you to make these types of decisions for her when she's not able to? You know her better than anyone else and know exactly what she would want. You're making the right decisions. I know you are."
"What am I going to tell the kids?"
"I might be able to help you a little with that or at least buy you a little time to think about what you want to tell them." Greenlee offered. She'd arrived while the sisters were speaking with the doctors.
"What'd you mean, Greenlee?"
"I called Zach. He's going to pick up the kids and keep them tonight. He'll be able to keep them occupied and keep them safe. I hope that's alright."
"It's more than alright. Thank you, Greenlee." Bianca said gratefully.
"Good job, Greenlee. You know the kids are crazy about their Uncle Zach. He's just as big of a kid as they are." Kendall smiled.
"Yeah, he is. I told Jesse where they were going, and he's sending a patrol car over there. Susan said to call her if you need anything. Is there anything you need for me to do for you?"
"I can't think of anything. I need to make some calls. I need to call Krystal and Mom."
A nurse appeared and looked at the three women. "Ms. Montgomery?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Dr. Torres sent me. You can see Ms. Tasker now."
Bianca shot up out of her seat. "Kendall?"
"Go see Marissa. We'll make the calls for you."
With that, Bianca quickly followed the nurse down the corridor.
"How's she doing, Kendall?"
"Bianca? She's holding it together somehow, but I know she's scared to death. With Marissa, they're keeping an eye on swelling in her brain. Do you remember that envelope that Bianca got out of the desk?"
"Yeah, I was wondering about that. What was it?"
"It was Marissa's medical power of attorney. Any decisions regarding her treatment will be made by Bianca. It's a good thing they did that. A resident, actually more like one of David's disciples, called him. He assumed he was in charge and wanted her rushed into surgery. Angie and Dr. Torres disagreed. With that piece of paper, Bianca settled the argument and asserted her rights regarding Marissa. I didn't get the chance to ask, but I'm pretty sure she has Bianca's power of attorney."
"I wouldn't be surprised. It looks like Marissa was thinking ahead. You want to call Erica and I'll call Krystal?"
/
Bianca paused outside of the door to gather herself and nodded to Brot who was standing guard. She took a deep breath and entered. There was no way she could have prepared herself for what she saw. It was almost too much for her to bear. Marissa looked so pale and fragile, so unlike how she normally was. She looked almost lifeless. NO! She's alive, and she's going to be okay. Please God, don't take her away from me. I need her. The kids need her.
The brunette moved closer and pulled out the chair on the right side of Marissa's bed. Up close, she could see bruises were starting to appear on her left side. There was a brace of some kind around her left knee. She was hooked up to couple of monitors, and she was on oxygen. Bianca carefully tucked a lock of copper hair behind her ear and leaned over to gently kiss Marissa. The brunette then sat down and took her lover's hand. She softly whispered. "Please wake up, Rissa. I need you. I love you so much. Don't leave me. You promised me old and gray. We're nowhere close that."
/
Bianca lost track of time. She wasn't sure how long she'd been in Marissa's room. Time had just seemed to stop. Nurses came in and checked on Marissa, but they were a blur. She vaguely recalled Kendall ducking her head in to inform her that their mother and Krystal were on their way. Other than that, nothing else made it through the haze she was in. She continued to hold her lover's hand as she listened to the monitors and watched the steady rise and fall of her chest. Bianca whispered to her, urged her to fight, willing her to fight and come back to her. Suddenly, the beeps from the monitors increased.
Marissa groaned and winced in pain as she struggled to open her eyes. They slowly opened, and she tried to focus on the person next to her. The lights in the room were too bright, and she couldn't keep her eyes open. She heard her name, but the pain was too much to focus and know who it was. She felt a gentle touch and heard soft whispered words that comforted her.
"All through the night, near and far, we will be together. So hush, don't you cry. You will be in my arms, forevermore."
Marissa drifted back to sleep.
/
A/N: Damn if leave another cliffhanger, but sorry, I just couldn't help it. I don't think it's quite as evil as the last one though. I'll finish by saying that's it probably pretty obvious that I'm not a doctor. Thanks to the internet though, I can look some things up and hopefully not butcher them too much.